To blanch at the cost of UK attractions

[Monket]

Thinking ahead to the summer holidays, entertaining a 4yo and 6yo (and newborn) in London, and everything is so expensive… I appreciate we can do some free activities, park/picnic etc, but I’d like to take them to some more attractions eg. the Aquarium, London Eye etc. The reviews of the Merlin passes are very poor, so not inclined to purchase one.

Aibu to think prices are crazy, and to ask for tips and tricks to get cheaper entry?

At least the major museums are still free. I was 😱not long ago at the charge for entry to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam - IIRC over €20 even for wrinklies.

Many museums are not free.

YANBU - it's mad! Our local petting farm/animal place is now £30 a head for anyone over the age of 2!
In holidays I now fly the kids to my home country as the flights are about the same a a day trip for 4 to that shitty animal place and there's a lot more to do that's free/cheap/reasonally priced!

We just visited family in the UK. Refused to pay £70+ for 2 adults and 2 kids to visit Stonehenge. My MIL remembers when it was just a lovely quiet place that anyone could access free of charge. It's been turned into an absolute circus, and I feel like the only people who visit now are tourists on bus tours. We went to Avebury instead - small parking fee, you can walk around the stones FOC, and choose whether you want to pay more to visit the museum and manor house.

Yes I would never pay full price for it but have visited a couple of times as National trust members. Museum is good but not worth the money at full price.